Ohio man pleads guilty in Howard Co. to human trafficking

An Ohio man pleaded guilty Tuesday to human trafficking charges in connection with the pimping of an Ohio woman in southern Howard County, according to State's Attorney spokesman Wayne Kirwan.

Howard Draper Jr., 57, of Toledo, Ohio, pleaded guilty to a human trafficking charge and a prostitution charge before opening statements Tuesday in his jury trial in Howard County Circuit Court.

Draper was sentenced by Judge Richard Bernhardt to 12 years in prison, 10 for the human trafficking charge and two for the prostitution charge, Kirwan said.

The remaining six charges were dropped.

Draper, who was arrested in June, pleaded to trafficking a woman from Ohio to Jessup for prostitution. According to the charging documents, Draper used the website Backpage.com to set up prostitution appointments with "Johns."

The victim, who was not identified, was being prostituted out of an Extended Stay America and Comfort Inn, both in Jessup, according to the documents.